Fort Worth Community Arts Center is pleased to announce that the first annual Fort Worth Youth Poetry Slam will be held at the CAC on Tuesday, November 14, 2006. The competition is open to all Fort Worth students ages 11 to 18. Original works to be read should not exceed three minutes, 10 seconds in performance time. The deadline for entries is November 7, 2006.

Entries should include an excerpt of up to one hundred words, and should give the student’s name, age, and school. English and drama teachers and other instructors can nominate their best students, or students can enter the competition directly.

Nationally ranked poet and performance artist Michael Guinn, who is organizing this event, says that the poetry can be personal and/or deal with political and social issues, so long as it’s from the heart. The poetry need not be memorized. Michael asks that language guidelines be observed.

Twenty semi-finalists will be chosen, five from each of the following age groups: 11 and 12 year old, 13 and 14 year old, fifteen and sixteen year old, and 17 and 18 year old students.

Students will be judged by people randomly selected from the audience who will consider writing ability and performance skills. There will be certificates, trophies and prizes. Winning entries will be published in the DFW Poetry Review magazine, and the Slam itself will be televised for future showing on the “Art of Living” program on commercial cable TV.

Michael is planning a terrific show. There will be a reception starting at 5:30 p.m. and the Youth Slam will be preceded by a performance from the award-winning Fort Worth Slam Team. The event should wrap up by 8:30 p.m.

To enter the competition, or to request additional information, please e-mail Michael Guinn at jordanmichaelg@yahoo.com or call him at 817-412-3964.